Swimming with Dolphins – An Amazing experience in Jamaica

I have always dreamed of swimming with the friendly dolphins. After being unsuccessful for past few years, my dream was finally fulfilled when I visited Jamaica to get this unique experience. I visited along with my family and was among the privileged few to be hosted by the gracious Jamaican Tourist Board. The best place to enjoy swimming with dolphins was at Dolphin Cove in Ocho Rios, a key Jamaican city. This is certainly the best place in this Caribbean nation where you can relax and enjoy with your family members.

The best part was the Dolphin Encounter Swim. It was quite amazing. I wore the life jacket and entered into the water. It was a thrilling experience to touch the dolphins and interact with them. They are beautiful and friendly marine mammals. During the “Encounter Swim” program I got the real experience of swimming, splashing as well as playing with the dolphins. And, all this was done in an enclosed area. “Swim With” is another exciting program that complements “Encounter Swim”. This program allowed me to swim along with two dolphins simultaneously in a real cove. For this you need to make reservations much in advance. You can also make reservations online. Indeed, swimming along with them is a sheer delight. Even small children can participate in the fun. Children aged three and above are allowed to swim with the dolphins, but they should be accompanied by an adult person.
 
Dolphin swim programs are not allowed for pregnant women. However, they along with their little toddlers can take part in “Touch Encounter” program wherein they would be able to pet and interact with dolphins standing in knee deep water. Children under five are allowed complimentary access on the condition that they are accompanied by an adult person.

Apart from swimming with dolphins program, there are other activities that can be pursued at the Dolphin Cove. This includes the shark show, rides on mini-boats, snorkeling, glass bottom boat rides, and swimming with stingrays.

Montego Bay’s Half Moon Resort is another famous place where “Swimming with Dolphins” program is held. Here dolphin encounters of various kinds are held in a resort setting. The “Beach Encounter” is the exclusive dolphin interaction program conducted by Half Moon Resort. This program is specially designed for young children and also for those people who have limited swimming ability. The “Deep Water” Encounter program conducted by the resort provides the participants a longer swimming time with the dolphins. “Private Swims” are also offered by the resort permitting only two to four people to swim along with the dolphins as well as interact with them. For this, reservations should be made in advance.

Swimming with dolphins though may be a lifetime experience, but it comes with slight risk as well. However this can easily be overcome by taking note of the tip given here. There had been occasional reports of people getting hurt during swim with dolphins, particularly involving broken bones. This is because dolphins usually butt with their snouts. They also become agitated on seeing people nervous. So before you decide to swim with dolphins, maintain your calm and don’t get nervous at all, or else you just might be hurt like other nervous swimmers.